Yoga Mats
Buy a yoga mat, borrow one or do without it altogether?
Buying a yoga mat is easy. Finding the right yoga mat for
your practice is a little more difficult. There are sustainable, non-slip,
absorbent and thoroughly designed mats. There are hard and soft yoga mats, some
are made of plastic and others of rubber. If you have a choice, you are spoilt
for choice.
The Lotus Design team would like to make it a little
easier for you to choose the perfect yoga mat for you and your practice. Here
is a small checklist to get you started on the topic of "buying a yoga
mat":
Is the yoga mat non-slip?
Does the mat offer you enough comfort to lie on?
Is the yoga mat insulated against the cold of the floor?
Is the mat durable?
Is the mat easy to clean?
Is the yoga mat free of artificial odours?
First things first: Why does the yogi need a mat at all?
The first yogis in India probably got by without a yoga
mat. The modern yogi in the West, however, has a completely different anatomy
and we did not grow up in a yogic culture.
For example, the padding of the mat protects your joints.
A good yoga mat is indispensable so that you can keep your balance during your
asanas. On a slippery floor you would quickly start to slip and not be able to
maintain your stability. This can lead not only to frustration but also to
orthopaedic problems.
To find out for yourself whether the yoga mat you have
chosen is non-slip enough, do a simple test: get into the dog-walking position.
Can you hold this Asana well or do you feel that your hands are constantly
sliding forward? Only if you are stable in this basic yoga position is the mat
you have chosen non-slip enough.
If you practice on a yoga mat that is not non-slip
enough, this can lead to subtle strains or even more serious injuries. Lotus
Design strongly recommends that you do not use a yoga mat that does not have a
secure grip.
Through thick and thin: yoga vs. aerobics
Anyone who attends Pilates or fitness classes will be
familiar with the gymnastics mats that are used there. Although they look
similar to yoga mats, they are not suitable for asana practice. Yoga mats are
thinner than other sports mats, usually only four to five millimetres thick.
Normal gym mats are not slip-resistant and can therefore be dangerous for the
yoga practitioner.
For those who are just starting yoga, we recommend opting
for the thickest version. Advanced yogis should choose the slimmer version,
because a secure grip is especially important for balance exercises. Fans of
dynamic yoga styles such as Ashtanga Yoga or Iyengar Yoga should also buy a
thin yoga mat. On the other hand, those who love gentler yoga styles, such as
Yin Yoga, are better off with a thicker mat.
As you can see, before buying a yoga mat, it is important
to know what style of yoga you will be practising regularly. If you are just
starting out and want to try out different types of yoga, you are probably
better off renting a yoga mat from a yoga studio.
Once you have finally decided on a style, you can buy the
appropriate yoga mat. It is a nice feeling for most people to have their own
yoga mat - because this way you can also practise yoga at home or on holiday.
Maybe it will even become a spiritual anchor in your everyday life.
Yoga mats for special tasks and special situations
For yogis who sweat a lot, we recommend mats that retain
their non-slip properties despite moisture, or that have even more grip as a
result. The same applies to sweaty yoga styles such as Hot Yoga or Vinyasa
Yoga. So the place where we practise our yoga also plays a role. A retreat in
India or Mexico will stress our sweat glands differently than a retreat in
Norway.
If you practise dynamic Ashtanga yoga, you definitely
need a yoga mat that is resistant to abrasion, because the strain on the mat is
then incomparably higher than with gentle Yin yoga.
Not only important for materialists: rubber, cork or plastic?
At Lotus Design, we take care to produce and sell under
socially fair and ecologically sustainable conditions. Did you know that we
have been a recognised inclusion company for over 20 years? Currently, four
employees with disability status work at Lotus Design, because social
responsibility always starts on site for us.
Which material your yoga mat should be made of is not only an aesthetic decision. We have yoga mats made of plastic, natural rubber, jute, cork and pure wool in our range. Each material has advantages and disadvantages. Here is a brief portrait of three different materials:
Yoga mats made of plastic
Yoga mats made of PVC, for example, are very popular,
especially because of their attractive price-performance ratio. Since they
usually weigh less than average, they are also well suited for travelling.
However, their production is comparatively not as environmentally friendly.
Mats made of natural rubber
Due to their natural structure, yoga mats made of natural
rubber offer good grip and are very robust. One disadvantage: mats made of rubber
sometimes have a strong odour, but this can be neutralised quickly by airing
them out.
Jute yoga mats
A jute mat is very absorbent and therefore absorbs
moisture very well. This is advantageous for sweaty yoga styles such as hot
yoga or Ashtanga yoga. Unfortunately, jute is not very comfortable, which is a
clear disadvantage of these mats.
Why choosing your yoga mat is also a matter of the heart
We have now talked a lot on this page about the
advantages and disadvantages of materials and the suitability of mats in
relation to different yoga styles. However, despite all common sense, we should
not ignore aesthetic and emotional aspects when choosing a yoga mat.
A yoga mat is the heart of your yoga practice! It will
ground you in many hours of yoga and perhaps even be an anchor for you in
everyday life. It is your little island of peace and self-awareness. Therefore,
the yoga mat you buy should also appeal to you visually. It should "feel
right" - in a practical and figurative sense!
Life beyond the yoga mat
The yoga mat is always the foundation of your yoga
practice. If you only want to buy one product for your yoga, then it should
definitely be a good yoga mat. But beyond the yoga mat, you will also find many
useful products at Lotus Design that will make your practice even more
enjoyable and successful. So feel free to take a look around our shop!